Stirrup leather buckling system

ABSTRACT

A top and a bottom stirrup leather are secured against relative longitudinal movement through the utilization of a rigid buckle member having a shank extending substantially perpendicular from the bottom stirrup leather and terminating in a tongue formed integrally therewith extending approximately parallel to the stirrup leather. A tab is also provided and extends perpendicularly to the bottom stirrup leather. The top stirrup leather is provided with a plurality of regularly spaced holes aligned along a centerline thereof. The shank and tab prevent longitudinal relative movement between the stirrup leathers while the tongue maintains the two in approximate contact to prevent the shank and tab from moving out of the holes. A leather strap is utilized to augment the tongue and is secured to the bottom stirrup leather and is looped through a pair of holes in the top stirrup leather.

United States Patent [151 3,638,395

Reidhead Feb. 1, 1972 [54] STIRRUP LEATHER BUCKLING Primary Examiner-Hugh R. Chamblee SYSTEM Inventor: Guy M. Reidhead, 406 South First St.,

Phoenix, Ariz. 85004 Filed: Feb. 19, 1970 Appl. No.: 12,737

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Wiethorn ..24/ 176 UX Kreger, .lr. ..54/46 X Harriss ..54/46 Attorney-Drummond, Cahill & Phillips [57] ABSTRACT A top and a bottom stirrup leather are secured against relative longitudinal movement through the utilization of a rigid buckle member having a shank extending substantially perpendicular from the bottom stirrup leather and terminating in a tongue formed integrally therewith extending approximately parallel to the stirrup leather. A tab is also provided and extends perpendicularly to the bottom stirrup leather. The top stirrup leather is provided with a plurality of regularly spaced holes aligned along a centerline thereof. The shank and tab prevent longitudinal relative movement between the stirrup leathers while the tongue maintains the two in approximate contact to prevent the shank and tab from moving out of the holes. A leather strap is utilized to augment the tongue and is secured to the bottom stirrup leather and is looped through a pair of holes in the top stirrup leather.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 16 WNW Y INVENTOR.

GUY M. REIDHEAD 1 5:5 :3 BY

- ATTORNEYS leather.

STIRRUP LEATHER BUCKLING SYSTEM The present invention pertains to stirrup leather buckling systems, and more particularly, to a novel arrangement for securing the top and bottom stirrup leathers to provide a readily adjustable system for supporting stirrups on a saddle.

The desirability of providing adjustable stirrup height on a saddle is manifest; a large number of prior art designs have provided for this adjustability and include varying degrees of complexity and cost. Basically, the stirrup leather is formed of a leather strap which extends from a saddle fender over the saddle tree down between the horses flank and the fender, and loops around the stirrup to join the bottom of the saddle fender. To provide adjustable height to the stirrup positioning, the stirrup leather is easily cut and a buckle is secured to one end while holes are punched in the opposite end to provide the adjustability. The two ends of the cut stirrup leather are thus obviously lapped, the one on top being referred to as the top stirrup leather and the one on the bottom as the bottom stirrup There are numerous criteria for a proper buckling system;

. however, fourof these criteria stand out in importance. First, the buckling system must be capable of withstanding all the loads which will be imposed upon it; secondly, the buckling system should be capable of easy coupling to permit a ready adjustment of the stirrup height; thirdly, the buckling system should not be so expansive and complex to impair the flexibility, of the stirrup leathers since the leathers are normally twisted in use; and fourth, the buckle must not be so bulky as to protrude from the stirrup leathers that will result in a pressure point either against the animals flank or against the rider's leg through the fender. The above criteria are in addition to the obvious criteria of expense and lightweight. Prior art buckling systems seem to have been able to answer most of the above criteria, but no one system provides sufficient design novelty to provide for all criteria.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stirrup leather buckling system that is lightweight and inexpensive while providing sturdy connection between the top and bottom stirrup leathers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a stirrup leather buckling system wherein the stirrup leathers may quickly and efficiently be coupled and uncoupled.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a stirrup leather buckling system wherein a minimum of elements are utilized so as not to add bulk at the point of coupling.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

The present invention may be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a saddle illustrating the utilization of a stirrup leather buckling system constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

F IG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 1, taken along line 22.

H6. 3 is a perspective view, partly in section and partially exploded, illustrating the stirrup leather Referring now to the drawings, a saddle is characteristically constructed of rawhide, fiberglass, or metal saddle tre'e (not shown) which is subsequently covered with the necessary accouterments to form a seat 11, cantle l2, pommel 13, and skirts l4. Stirrups l5 and 16 are usually suspended from the saddle at a distance determined by the riders leg length and are secured to the saddle tree by a leather strap 20. The strap is cut to form a top stirrup leather 21 and a bottom stirrup leather 22 adjustably buckled at 23. The bottom stirrup leather 22 passes over a pin 25 provided in the top of the stirrup and is joined to a fender 26. The stirrup leather may be formed as an integral extension of the same piece of leather forming the fenderror may be otherwise secured to the end of the fender.

Similarly, the top stirrup leather 21 passes upwardly over the saddle tree (not shown) and downward to be attached to or form a part of the fender 26. To adjust the height ofthe stirrups 15 and 16, the buckling system 23 is called upon to lengthen or foreshorten the effective length of stirrup leather.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the buckling system 23 includes a metal strap 30 secured to the bottom stirrup leather by any convenient means, such as rivets 32 and 34. The metal strap is formed into a shank portion 35 extending substantially perpendicularly from the lower stirrup leather 22; a tongue portion 36 is formed at the end of the shank 35 and extends from the shank at approximately and roughly parallel to the bottom stirrup leather 22. It will be noted that in the embodiment chosen for illustration, the angle between the shank 35 and the tongue 36 is somewhat less than 90 to provide more ofa hook action when in use.

The opposite end of the metal strap 30 is formed into a tab 40 that also extends substantially perpendicularly from the lower stirrup leather 22. The tongue 36, shank 35, and tab 40 are aligned at approximately the longitudinal centerline of the lower stirrup leather; further, a plurality of holes 42, 43, and 44 are also aligned along the centerline. A locking strap 46 is secured to the lower stirrup leather 22 by the rivet 34 and may be threaded through the holes 42 and 43 provided therefor in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. It may be noted that the metal strap 30 is positioned adjacent the end 48 of the lower stirrup leather 22 with the tongue 36 extending slightly beyond the end to facilitate threading of the tongue and shank 36 and 35 in holes 50 provided therefor in the top stirrup leather 21.

The top and bottom stirrup leathers 21 and 23 respectively are secured against relative longitudinal movement by threading the tongue 36 through a desired hole 50 along the longitudinal centerline of the top stirrup leather 21. The shank 35 will obviously follow the tongue 36 into the hole and the tab 40 will automatically be positioned to be inserted in a second hole 50 in the top stirrup leather 21. It may be seen that the shank 35 and tab 40 are spaced apart a distance equal to a multiple of the distance between the holes 50, it being obvious that the spacing equal to the distance between holes 50 is the same as a multiple of l.

The top and bottom stirrup leathers are thus coupled as shown in FIG. 2 and will remain in this configuration until forcibly separated by grasping the top stirrup leather and lifting it up and away from the bottom stirrup leather in a direction indicated by the arrow 52. A locking strap 46 may be utilized to maintain approximate contact'between the top and bottom stirrup leathers to prevent inadvertent parting of the top stirrup leather from the tab 40. Since very little force is required to maintain this relationship, the locking strap 46 is merely threaded through the hole 42, through appropriate holes 50 in the top stirrup'leather 21, and back through hole 43 in the bottom stirrup leather 22. All of the longitudinal force tending to pull stirrup leathers 21 and 22 apart are absorbed by the shank 35 and tab 40, thus providing sufficient cross-sectional stirrup leather area,'limit the stress well below 'that at which tearing or excessive wear occurs. The metal strap 30 is made with a transverse dimension D that is substantially less than the width of the lower stirrup leather 22 (less than 50 percent); since the metal strap 30 is positioned along the centerline of the stirrup leathers, the ability of the stirrup leathers to be twisted (torsional stiffness) is not significantly increased. Further, the minimal size and weight of the elements added to the stirrup leathers lightens the buckling system, maintains the buckle at an absolute minimum while nevertheless reducing the cost of manufacture.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a convenient stirrup leather buckling system has been provided at low cost without sacrificing minimal bulk, flexibility or strength. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in the specific embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. A stirrup leather buckling system comprising:

a. a top and bottom stirrup leather to be secured against relative longitudinal movement;

b. a plurality of regularly spaced holes aligned along a censectional configuration to permit insertion in said holes.

5. said shank and tab spaced along said bottom stirrup leather centerline a distance equal to a multiple of the distance between said holes,

6. said rigid buckle member is secured adjacent an end of said bottom stirrup leather and said tongue extends beyond the end of said bottom stirrup leather.

2. The combination set forth in claim I, wherein said shank, tongue, and tab are formed integrally from a single metal strap riveted to said bottom stirrup leather, and wherein said strap has a maximum dimension transverse of said stirrup leather of less than one-hallthe width of said bottom stirrup leather. 

1. A stirrup leather buckling system comprising: a. a top and bottom stirrup leather to be secured against relative longitudinal movement; b. a plurality of regularly spaced holes aligned along a centerline of said top stirrup leather; c. a rigid buckle member secured to said bottom stirrup leather, said buckle member comprising:
 1. a shank extending substantially perpendicular from said bottom stirrup leather,
 2. a tongue formed integrally with said shank and extending therefrom at approximately 90* from said shank to approximately parallel to said bottom stirrup leather,
 3. a tab extending substantially perpendicular from said bottom stirrup leather,
 4. said shank, tongue, and tab positioned along a centerline of said bottom stirrup leather and having a cross-sectional configuration to permit insertion in said holes,
 5. said shank and tab spaced along said bottom stirrup leather centerline a distance equal to a multiple of the distance between said holes,
 6. said rigid buckle member is secured adjacent an end of said bottom stirrup leather and said tongue extends beyond the end of said bottom stirrup leather.
 2. a tongue formed integrally with said shank and extending therefrom at approximately 90* from said shank to approximately parallel to said bottom stirrup leather,
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said shank, tongue, and tab are formed integrally from a single metal strap riveted to said bottom stirrup leather, and wherein said strap has a maximum dimension transverse of said stirrup leather of less than one-half the width of said bottom stirrup leather.
 3. a tab extending substantially perpendicular from said bottom stirrup leather,
 4. said shank, tongue, and tab positioned along a centerline of said bottom stirrup leather and having a cross-sectional configuration to permit insertion in said holes,
 5. said shank and tab spaced along said bottom stirrup leather centerline a distance equal to a multiple of the distance between said holes,
 6. said rigid buckle member is secured adjacent an end of said bottom stirrup leather and said tongue extends beyond the end of said bottom stirrup leather. 